Panticosa-Vignemale ski tour, Aragonese Pyrenees

The Panticosa-Vignemale Haute Route is one of the best ski touring spots in Aragon. Come discover it with IFMGA-certified guide Mikel on this 5-day tour.

Pyrénées

5 Days

Mar, Apr

High

Intermediate

Description

Join me for an unforgettable 5-day ski tour in one of the wildest spots of the Pyrenees. We’ll trace magnificent mountain skiing tracks between Panticosa and Vignemale. By the end of the day we’ll rest in one of the several comfortable and modern mountain huts in the area.

The Panticosa-Vignamale Haute Route has nothing to envy to any of the famous routes of the Alps. Moreover, it is easy to find ourselves in complete loneliness during much of the trip.

Our starting and ending point will be the Panticosa Thermal Baths located at 1635 meters of altitude. Here we will spend the night in the “Casa de Piedra” Refuge, where we will have our equipment checked for our ski traverse.

As for the level required, please keep in mind that they will be 5 days of demanding physical effort. Although the Panticosa-Vignemale region offers a wide variety of options, our itinerary will depend on your technical level and weather conditions. At the end of this description you can check out the day-by-day program.

If you’re decided to come to Aragon and try some ski touring here please send me your request now and book the trip for next dates. It’ll be my great pleasure to guide you along the Panticosa-Vignemale route.

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Transport during the trip

Price details

The price does not include: transportation to Panticosa, overnight stays and half board in hut, picnic foods and drinks. Consider an extra cost of about 200 euros for the half-board accommodation. It is also possible to buy the box lunches of the day in the hut. Participants must also cover the half-board expenses of the guide.

Itinerary

Day 1: Bachimaña - Collado del Infierno - Respumoso Refuge

We leave the “Casa de Piedra” hut towards the Bachimaña Hut. There we will make a brief stop and we will then cross for the icy and blue Bachimaña Glacial Lake, until the “Collado del Infierno”. From here (if the team feels good) we will ascend the Tebarray Peak (2916m) and descend towards the Respumoso Refuge (2208m) by the “Collado de Tebarray”.

Day 2: Respumoso - Punta Aragón - Walon Hut

We will depart from Respumoso in direction towards the “Collado de la Facha”. From here we will ascend to Punta Aragón (2918m) and we’ll descend in a magnificent skiing down to the Walon Hut (1800m) on the French slope.

Day 3: Pico Alofonse Meillon - Oulettes de Gaube Hut

From Wallon we will head towards the “Collado de Arratille” (2528m). To our left we’ll have the Pico Alofonse Meillon of 2930 meters of height. If our energies and climatic conditions are good we can ski on its west face. From Collado de Arratil we’ll cross the Ara valley to the “Collado de los Mulos” (2594m) and then descend to the Oulettes de Gaube Hut (2150m), at the foot of the impressive Vignemale’s north face.

Day 4: Pique Long del Vignemale

Today we will make the Oulettes – Vignemale – Oulettes circuit. We’ll ascend to the Pique Long del Vignemale (3298m) and then descend to the hut. Stunning mountain and magnificent skiing!

Day 5: Collado de Letrero - Dientes de Batanes - Panticosa

We will ascend again to Collado de los Mulos and then descend through the Ara valley until we turn west to ascend Collado de Letrero. From here we will head to the “Dientes de Batanes” and we will descend directly to the thermal baths of Panticosa in one of the best ski runs of the Pyrenees.

Details

More info

Equipment Needed: Skis and hiking boots; Backpack of 30 liters; Sticks suitable for our stature; Skins adapted to our skis; Helmet; Piolet and crampons; Arva, shovel and probe; Sunglasses; Sun cream and cocoa; Bottle of water and picnic food for the day. Clothing suitable for the activity: cap, buff, 2 pairs of gloves, spare socks, trousers and gore-tex jacket.

Meeting point

Panticosa Thermal Baths

About the guide

Mikel

Mountain Guide

UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide from Spain

Mountains have always been attractive to me. I started going from a young age, to spots close to Pamplona, and at 17 I discovered climbing.

Since then, I got completely hooked, and started going to the Pyrenees, the Alps, and then the Himalayas. For many years my life was to gather some money to go climbing challenging and remote mountains.

I was part of 33 expeditions out of Europe, to Nepal, India, Pakistán, Tíbet, Patagonia, Tierra de Fuego, Groenlandia and Antártida. But I love the Pyrenees: there’s where I did the toughest technical climbs, and I opened more than 100 routes. Ordesa has been my best alpine school.

I've been also the Director of the Spanish Alpine Team for the past 6 years.

The mountains are the perfect place to feel alive, share with friends and dream. But instead of remembering what I did, I rather think in all what I’d like to do, the places to discover, and mountains and walls to discover!

Certificates

AEGM

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